An MRC Free Speech America study revealed that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) used a program intended to combat terrorism to target political opponents. Among the numerous grants, one went to the University of Dayton, specifically to research "raising societal awareness, media literacy and online critical thinking initiatives."
Within the Terrorism and Targeted Violence Prevention Grant Program, DHS awarded a $352,109 grant to the university to fund its "Preventing Radicalization to Extremist Violence through Education, Network-Building and Training in Southwest Ohio (PREVENTS-OH)" project.
These tactics include raising awareness of "factors for radicalization to violence related to media literacy and online critical thinking for students."
In the university's submission to DHS for the grant, they cited previous work by their Center for Human Rights that assessed "regional needs and capacities for the prevention of violent extremism." The grant was awarded based on the researchers' goal of showing the government agency the types of content that would be best to avoid.
According to research by Luis Cornelio and Tim Kilcullen, there was a presentation entitled Extremism, Rhetoric and Democratic Precarity, which details a pyramid of the media influence of the "modern extreme right." The presentation was made by Michael Loadenthal, a researcher at the University of Cincinnati.
From the bottom up, the pyramid shows "mainstream conservatism" first, represented by Fox News, the Heritage Foundation, the Republican National Committee, the National Rifle Association and the Christian Broadcasting Network.
One step higher on the danger scale are Breitbart News, PragerU and Turning Point USA, among others. At the next level is what Loadenthal dubbed "alt-right" and "accelerators," which includes everything from white nationalist entities to neo-Nazis. All in the same bag with Fox News, the Republican National Committee and the aforementioned entities.
L. Brent Bozell III, founder and president of MRC Free Speech America, spoke with the Washington Examiner on the subject. "This terrorism task force is engaged in an active effort to demonize and eliminate Christian, conservative and Republican organizations using federal taxpayer dollars," he began in his disclaimer.
"What we have uncovered calls for criminal prosecution. The American people need to know those who are abusing their positions in the federal government will be held accountable for their criminal behavior," he continued.
He also confirmed that a letter was sent to Jim Jordan, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, requesting that the Subcommittee on Federal Government Armaments investigate DHS regarding this funding.
The DHS responded to the Washington Examiner's information and gave its version of events. "This seminar was not funded, organized, or hosted by the Department of Homeland Security," a spokesperson said.
"Similarly, the presented chart was not developed, presented, or endorsed by the Department of Homeland Security and was not part of any successful grant application to the Department of Homeland Security. DHS does not profile, target, or discriminate against any individual for exercising their constitutional rights protected by the First Amendment," he added.
